can osteoporosis be reversed?

There’s no cure for osteoporosis. But there is hope.

At the Endocrine Center, we believe honesty is the best and only place to start because it allows you to focus on what can be done. And when it comes to osteoporosis — a condition that robs your bones of precious minerals and causes them to become increasingly weaker and more brittle — a lot can be done.

Is osteoporosis reversible? That’s a complicated question with a complicated answer. Here, our team of expert endocrinologists takes a deeper look at osteoporosis treatments and how they work together with a healthy lifestyle to slow the progression of — and possibly reverse — osteoporosis.

Technically, once you have osteoporosis, you have it for life. It’s incurable. However, there are ways to prevent it, ways to slow down its progression, and — if you catch it early enough — ways to counteract it.

Preventing osteoporosis starts early in your childhood and continues throughout your life. It involves making smart choices for the growth and health of your bones, including a diet of calcium-rich foods, plenty of vitamin D, weight-bearing exercises, and limiting caffeine, alcohol, and smoking.

If you already have osteoporosis, we can help you slow or stop the progression of the disease with a variety of treatments.

However, there’s a point that lies between these two stages of bone health called osteopenia, or pre-osteoporosis. During this stage, you may be able to reverse your condition before it reaches a critical point.

When we test your bones for osteoporosis, we use technology called dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DEXA. It’s noninvasive and painless, and it usually takes about 15 minutes or so to complete.

This test allows us to determine several factors about your bone health:

We base these conclusions on the results of your DEXA test, which scores your bone mineral density compared to two populations: young healthy adults (your T-score) and adults of a similar age (your Z-score).

We focus on the T-score for diagnostic purposes. In general, if your T-score is a positive number, you have strong, healthy bones. If it’s a negative number, it means your bones have lost density and are weakening. Any T-score of -2.5 or lower indicates osteoporosis.

A T-score of -1 to -2.5 indicates low bone mass, which means you don’t yet have osteoporosis. Instead, you have a condition called osteopenia and a chance to reverse the trajectory of your bone health. It’s also possible to move from the cusp of osteoporosis (-2.5 to -2.9) to the osteopenia range, which may also constitute a reversal. Here’s how.

To understand how to change your bone health, you need to understand some key facts about bones. Your bones are alive, constantly replacing old cells with new ones and rebuilding themselves to remain strong and useful throughout your life. But somewhere around age 30, the renewal process slows down and can’t replace cells as fast as you lose them.

More than 54 million Americans suffer from brittle, porous bones, and most of them are women over age 50. Many factors contribute to bone loss, including health conditions, medical procedures, hormone imbalances, age, and lifestyle. Your ability to rebuild bone depends on what caused the loss in the first place and whether it’s possible to make a change at the source.

Osteoporosis is not reversible, but medication, a nutrient-dense diet, and weight bearing exercise can help prevent further bone loss and rebuild bones. Osteoporosis weaken bones so that they are more likely to break. Bones consist of living tissue .

Osteoporosis weakens bones to the point that they can break easily. It is called a “silent disease” because people who develop it may not notice any changes until a bone breaks — usually a bone in the hip, spine, or wrist.

Bones are made of living tissue. To keep them strong, a healthy human body breaks down old bone and replaces it with new bone. Osteoporosis develops when more bone is broken down than replaced.

The inside of a bone looks something like a honeycomb. When someone has osteoporosis, the bone, which forms the “walls” of the honeycomb, get smaller, and the spaces between the bone grow larger. The outer shell of the bone also gets thinner. All of this makes a bone weaker.

In serious cases of osteoporosis, a simple motion such as a cough or minor bump can result in a broken bone, also called a fracture. People with osteoporosis also have a harder time recovering from broken bones, which can sometimes cause pain that does not go away. Broken hip and spine bones are especially serious, as these injuries can cause older adults to lose their mobility and independence.

While people of all races and ethnic groups can develop osteoporosis, certain groups are more likely to develop the disease. Osteoporosis affects about one in five women over age 50, but only one in 20 men. Among women, those of White and Asian descent are more likely to develop osteoporosis. Other risk factors for osteoporosis include:

The risk of developing osteoporosis increases as people grow older. At the time of menopause, women may lose bone mass quickly for several years. After that, the loss slows down but continues. In men, the loss of bone mass is slower. By age 65 or 70, men and women lose bone mass at the same rate.

Osteoporosis rarely has any symptoms. In fact, some people may not notice any changes until a minor bump or fall causes a bone to break. Don’t wait for a potential accident to determine if you have osteoporosis.

If you are a woman over age 65, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that you get tested for osteoporosis. Women younger than 65 who are at greater risk should also get tested. The task force does not recommend regular screening for men. Men lose bone density more slowly than women but should still be aware of the possibility of developing osteoporosis. Older men who break a bone easily or who are at risk for osteoporosis should talk with their doctor about testing and treatment.

Health care providers can measure how strong bones are with a bone density scan. This test compares a person’s bone density to the bones of an average healthy young adult. The test result, known as a T-score, indicates whether a person has osteoporosis or osteopenia, which is low bone density that’s not as severe as osteoporosis. Your doctor may also use other screening tools, including questionnaires, physical exams, and ultrasounds, to predict your risk of having low bone density or breaking a bone.

Treating osteoporosis means slowing or stopping the bone loss to prevent breaks. If your test results show that you have osteoporosis or bone density below a certain level and you have other risk factors for fractures, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications to lower your chances of breaking a bone.

The same healthy lifestyle choices that help prevent osteoporosis can be used to treat it. These include exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet. However, lifestyle changes may not be enough if you have lost a lot of bone density. There are also several medications to consider. Some can slow your bone loss and others can help rebuild bone.

Medications that slow down bone loss include bisphosphonates, calcitonin, RANKL blockers, estrogen, and drugs that change how estrogen acts in the body.

Medications that help rebuild bone include a synthetic version of the parathyroid hormone and drugs that inhibit a protein called sclerostin.

Talk with your doctor to see if there is a medication that can help you manage your osteoporosis.

In addition to managing your osteoporosis, it’s important to avoid activities that may cause a fracture. Such activities include movements that involve twisting your spine, like swinging a golf club, or bending forward from the waist, like sit ups and toe touches.

You can also help reduce the risk of breaking a bone by preventing falls. For individuals with weakened bones, falling is more likely to cause a fracture. Additionally, broken bones in people with osteoporosis may not heal properly and could cause persistent pain, leading to a loss of mobility and independence.

With the right combination of treatments, you may even be able to reverse the effects of osteoporosis(opens in a new tab) and rebuild stronger bones.

Osteoporosis is caused by a loss of bone density. It is a chronic condition, which means there is no cure, but medical therapies may help manage the problem(opens in a new tab).

Like every part of the human body, bone is a living tissue made of cells. Old cells break down and die and are replaced by new ones. Osteoporosis happens when new bone cells are not created fast enough to keep up with natural bone loss.

From birth to our early 20s, our bodies make new bone tissue faster than we lose it. Most of us reach peak bone mass by the age of 30. The stronger and denser bones are at that point, the less risk you will have of developing osteoporosis later in life. However, many factors influence the rate of bone growth and loss.

Most of the risk factors related to osteoporosis are unchangeable and not in our control. Some of these fixed risks include:

Many other contributing risk factors can be controlled or managed to some degree. These controllable risks include:

Bad habits can also increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Being sedentary, over-consuming alcohol, and smoking tobacco can all contribute to weak bones.

Osteoporosis is easier to prevent than to reverse. If you are in a high-risk category, make sure to speak with your medical provider(opens in a new tab) about maintaining your bone health. Following all recommendations is the best way to reduce your risk and enjoy a full, active life without the complications of weak bones.

Medication alone is not enough to reverse osteoporosis, but there are steps you can take to stop bone loss and perhaps even rebuild healthy bone tissue.

Regular exercise(opens in a new tab) at any age helps bones stay strong. A variety of activities is best. Include weight-bearing exercises such as walking, playing tennis, golf or yoga, along with resistance exercises that use weights or bands to build strength.

Stretching and improving balance is also important. The more flexible and steady you are, the less likely you are to incur an injury to begin with.

Avoid high-impact exercise routines, and always consult with your doctor before starting a new exercise regimen.

A diet that includes a variety of nutrient-rich whole foods is key. Focusing on foods that provide calcium and vitamin D may be a good place to start.

Foods rich in calcium include:

Foods that provide vitamin D include:

When possible, spend 20 to 30 minutes outside daily. Allowing your face and arms to be exposed to the sunlight for short periods is one of the best ways to help your body produce vitamin D naturally.

When it comes to bone health, what you don’t do is as important as what you do. Unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and eating a diet full of processed, high-sugar foods are bad for your bones and may speed the process of osteoporosis.

U.S. dietary guidelines(opens in a new tab) recommend limiting your alcohol intake to no more than one serving per day for women and two servings for men. Since no amount of tobacco has been deemed safe, complete avoidance is recommended for optimal bone health.

If you are currently eating a diet high in processed foods and sugars, focus on adding more healthy food instead of eliminating all of the foods that are “bad” for you. Drastic dietary changes rarely last. It’s better to include a wider variety of recommended foods than to adopt a radical change that’s too difficult to maintain.

Your doctor may recommend one of several possible medications to speed the bone-building process. While some osteoporosis medications have been shown to increase bone density in rats, they also come with risks. And medications alone aren’t enough to reverse osteoporosis.

Improving your nutrition, exercising, and eliminating unhealthy habits are still necessary to rebuild bone strength even when medication is recommended.

Osteoporosis is a condition that occurs when your body can’t keep up with replacing bone. When this happens, you’re more prone to fractures, and these can start a downward health spiral where limited mobility and anxiety over future fractures lower your quality of life.

Though both men and women get osteoporosis, women are four times more likely to be affected, and the risk skyrockets during the first few years after menopause, when estrogen production stops.

Barbara Kage, MD, FACR and Donna Duffy, PA-C at Rheumatology and Allergy Institute of Connecticut, LLC offer expert prevention-focused treatment, whether you’re at risk for osteoporosis or have already been diagnosed with it. They’re dedicated to equipping you with the information and tools needed to alter your path toward osteoporosis and partnering with you to achieve this.

Your bones are actually made up of live material that’s constantly being replaced, but if your body becomes unable to keep up with production demands, osteoporosis occurs, your bones become brittle, and your risk is seriously upped for fractures — mostly of the spine, hip, and wrist, though they can occur anywhere.

Problems also occur when your body “steals” the calcium in your bones and uses it to ensure that your brain and heart are working properly. The bottom line is that if you experience a calcium deficit, your bones — and your physical stability — are at risk.

Those most at risk for osteoporosis are causasian and Asian women with small frames, post-menopausal women, and those who have osteoporosis running in their families.

In addition to fractures, people with osteoporosis tend to have spinal curvature that leads to stooped posture and even a protrusion on their back known as kyphosis. The condition also causes a reduction in height, so what you hear about shrinking as you age is often due to osteoporosis. Unfortunately, back pain can also accompany bone loss.

Although osteoporosis isn’t technically reversible, Dr. Kage and Donna Duffy, PA-C can monitor you carefully and provide you with preventive treatments that slow bone loss, build density, and support your overall bone health.

They help you put the brakes on osteoporosis through a series of steps:

For the Rheumatology and Allergy Institute of Connecticut, LLC team to obtain a baseline for your bone health, they order a bone density test called a DEXA scan, which indicates whether you have osteopenia, the precursor to osteoporosis, or the condition itself. Preventive measures can help you considerably, whether you have no visible bone loss yet (if our providers spot osteopenia) or if you have osteoporosis.

You can support your bone health by lowering your alcohol and caffeine intake, and refraining from smoking. Eating a calcium-rich diet where foods like yogurt, cheese, sardines, and dark leafy greens take center stage is important, but many foods are also fortified with calcium. Our team may also recommend taking calcium supplements to ensure you’re getting the proper amount.

Weight-bearing exercises like walking, running, hiking, using a stepper at the gym, and training with weights or resistance bands are all great options.

Our providers also provides education on how you can make your home safer so you reduce your chances of falling and sustaining a fracture. Some of the measures you can take that make a big difference are removing throw rugs from your space, getting electrical cords out of the way if they pose a tripping hazard, and making sure the spaces in your home are all well-lit.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which your bones become weak and brittle; this happens when your body develops too little bone or bone deteriorates, making your bones likely to fracture. Think of your bones like a honeycomb that contains small openings. When you have osteoporosis, the small openings become bigger, resulting in weaker and more fragile bones. This disease common with 54 million people in the U.S. living with it, however, it is more prevalent in women who are post-menopausal.

It is important to know that men can still develop it, though. Osteoporosis should be taken seriously as a number of negative outcomes can result from developing osteoporosis. Bones can break from simple movements such as a minor bend or cough. This condition also causes permanent pain and discomfort for those who develop it.

In the event that you or a loved one are diagnosed with osteoporosis, your first thought may be how to improve or even reverse the condition. Continue reading to discover the health and lifestyle tips you can implement to reduce osteoporosis symptoms.

The short answer is no, osteoporosis cannot be completely reversed and is not considered curable, but there are a number of health and lifestyle adjustments you can make to improve bone loss. Your provider may also prescribe you medications to help rebuild and slow down bone loss.

For women, drug therapy that includes estrogen treatments may be prescribed. The female estrogen hormone helps build new bone and manage bone density. This may be why after menopause, when estrogen levels decline, women are more prone to developing this condition. Estrogen hormone therapy can also mitigate other not-so-pleasant menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes.

Bones are actually a living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced by new bone. At around age 30, we decrease the bone mass that is being replaced. As people age, more bone may become broken down than is being replaced, which can develop into osteoporosis.

The beginning stages of osteoporosis are usually painless and do not cause any symptoms. It is common to not know you are living with this condition until a bone fracture occurs. This is especially dangerous because osteoporosis can worsen if not properly treated, making it critical to be proactive in your bone health.

Consistently eating certain nutrients can improve bone health, including:

In addition to eating the right nutrition, there are other ways to promote bone health throughout your life.

If you are over the age of 50 and have recently broken a bone, it is recommended to undergo a bone density test from your healthcare provider. Other signs of osteoporosis include a loss in height and a drop in estrogen or testosterone levels. During a bone density test, x-rays are used to determine how many grams of calcium and other minerals are in each bone segment. Bones that are likely to break, such as bones in the forearm and lower spine, are x-rayed during the test. The bone density test is quick and painless and will determine if a patient has osteoporosis so a treatment plan can be developed.

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